Iran rejects allegations of interference in Yemen

Iran has dismissed as “baseless” the allegations about its interference in Yemen’s internal affairs.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said on Tuesday that such groundless accusations are occasionally raised but the “falsity of these claims is quite clear.”“It is noteworthy that such remarks are made despite the ongoing meddling and moves by some

regional countries in Yemen contrary to the country’s interests and security,” Afkham added.Media reports on Monday quoted Yemeni President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi as accusing Iran of supporting southern secessionists and northern religious groups in the Arabian peninsula.The Iranian spokesperson pointed to relations between the two countries and said the Islamic Republic has always supported unity, stability and integrity in Yemen.“We believe that the issues in Yemen can only be resolved through dialog and a political process in line with meeting the legitimate demands of the country’s people and with the cooperation and participation of all the country’s political groups, parties and currents without foreign interference,” she said.Elsewhere, Afkham called for serious measure and efforts by the Yemeni government to investigate the assassination of an Iranian diplomat in Sana’a and to secure the release of another diplomat who was kidnapped in the country last July.She said Iran is following up the cases of terrorist acts against its diplomats through political channels and added that it is very important for Tehran that the Yemeni government take effective measures in this regard.On January 18, the commercial attaché of the Iranian Embassy in Sana’a, Abolqasem Asadi, was shot to death by terrorists outside the Iranian ambassador’s residence in the Yemeni capital.On July 21, 2013, administrative staff member at the Iranian Embassy in Sana’a Nour Ahmad Nikbakht was abducted after unidentified gunmen blocked the road and forced him out of his vehicle as he was on his way to work from his home in the diplomatic quarter of Sana’a.